CAGAYAN GOV. ALVARO ANTONIO said he and the province’s mayors would support the bid of former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. to become the country’s next president.

“As members of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, we have already committed to help Secretary Teodoro in his presidential bid, long before he even filed his candidacy,” Antonio told the Inquirer in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

This show of support was reaffirmed by Cagayan officials when Teodoro visited Tuguegarao City on Tuesday as main guest during the birthday celebration of Mayor Delfin Ting.

“We are confident that this support will be a big boost for Teodoro, as [Lakas-Kampi-CMD] is the force to reckon with in Cagayan, the fact that eight of our candidates for mayor in the province are running unopposed,” Antonio said.

Former Tuguegarao City Mayor Randolph Ting, the administration party’s candidate in the congressional race in the third district, and incumbent Mayor Ting assured Teodoro of their support.

“We would campaign for him as we believe in his principles and platforms of government. He has the best qualification to steer the country for six years starting 2010,” former Mayor Ting said.

In a press release quoting him, Antonio said Teodoro was the only candidate “having the only credible platform of government.”

The camp of Teodoro, the release said, was on its way to getting the full backing of the so-called “Solid North” after key figures in Isabela and Ilocos Norte earlier threw their support for the 43-year-old lawyer’s candidacy.

The influential Dy clan of Isabela and Ilocos Norte officials, led by the province’s governor, Michael Keon, earlier gave commitments to support Teodoro.